Part 1

[All standard disclaimers apply.]

Things had been quiet for weeks. They were getting restless in the Tower as a result. Beast Boy and Cyborg had tired of endless video game marathons, even the tournaments with the Titans East. Robin had resorted to rearranging the evidence room. Raven had even relented and gone to the mall of shopping with Starfire. Twice.

"Man, I'm so bored," Beast Boy whined, plopping down on the couch. "Did all the criminals go on vacation or something?"

"Yep," Raven said, never moving from behind her book, "all of the criminals are at the beach. Just forgot to tell us."

"Not fair!"

"She's joking, BB," Cyborg said, flipping through the channels. "Besides we should be glad that the crime rate is so low. It means that we're doing a good job."

Starfire entered the common room. Robin watched her as she made her way into the kitchen area and grabbed a bottle of mustard out of the fridge and a straw. She sighed happily as she took her first drink of her unusual beverage.

"Right, Robin?"

Robin pulled his attention from his best friend to Cyborg. "Huh?"

Cyborg smirked at him. "I was just saying that maybe we should take advantage of the lull and take a vacation."

"We're heroes. We don't take vacations."

"Okay, not a vacation. But maybe like a day on the beach."

"Oh, that would be glorious!" Starfire cried. "We could have the picnic and play the ball of volley. What do you think, friend Raven?"

"Rather do anything else but that," she replied, still buried behind her book.

"Oh, come on, Raven," Beast Boy said. "It could be fun."

"I'd rather have a root canal."

"Not cool!" Suddenly the alarms blared throughout the Tower. Beast Boy stared at the flashing red lights for a moment before pumping his fist in the air. "Finally!"

"Titans, go!"

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It was a bank robbery at the edge of the financial district. The Titans arrived as the robbers emerged. Seeing the heroes, they tried to go back inside. However, they were quickly blocked by Raven's magic.

"Starfire, the car!" Robin ordered.

She quickly disabled the getaway vehicle with well-placed starbolts to the tires. "It would be best if you would surrender now."

The criminals did not heed her advice. They scattered. Raven grabbed the leader with her magic, preventing his escape. Beast Boy, as a tiger, soon had another cornered against the wall of the bank. After a brief scuffle, Robin and Cyborg had their robbers in hand.

However, Starfire spotted another disappearing into an alley. "You! Stop!"

The criminal did not obey. Starfire levitated off the ground, beginning to fly after the robber. "I will get him," she announced to the team.

Robin looked up from handcuffing his robber. "Starfire, wait!"

But she was already gone.

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She lit a weak starbolt to help fight the gloom of the alley. Robin would fuss about her giving up her position with the light but it wasn't like they were fighting very dangerous criminals. In fact, the bank robbers were so routine, they were almost boring.

"It would be best if you surrender now," she called.

She waited and a figure darted from behind a dumpster. She flew forward, catching the robber by the shoulders and pressing them against the wall. "Please do the giving up now."

"I'm not going back to prison," the man growled.

"You do not have a choice," Starfire said.

She reached down to restrain his hands. She froze when she felt something cold press against her skin of her abdomen. "What?"

"Like I said, ain't going back to prison."

Fire erupted in her, followed by a deafening roar. She took a step back and realized that her knees were weak. The robber shoved past her, easily knocking her to the ground. She watched as he ran down the rest of the alley and disappeared around a corner.

She pressed her hands to the burning spot in her upper abdomen. She frowned when she felt the hole in her skin. She was whole before the robbery. How did she become damaged? She lifted a hand and saw that it was coated with her blood.

"Oh."

"Starfire!"

"Robin." She tried to turn to the voice of her friend but it hurt. It hurt so much to move.

"Starfire!" His voice was closer now. It was followed by the voices of her other friends. She was glad that Raven was with them. She would know what to do about the odd hole in her.

"Star! Oh, God, Star!"

She felt someone lift her. When had she closed her eyes? She fought to open them and stared into the masked eyes of her best friend and leader. "Robin."

"Starfire, what happened?"

"The robber got away. I failed in my mission."

He shook his head. "We'll worry about that later." His hands skimmed over her body. "What happened to you?"

She gasped as he pried her hands from her abdomen. "Ow."

"Oh, shit."

"I am sorry about the robber," Starfire murmured.

Robin fumbled for something in his utility belt. She groaned as he pushed something against her wound. "I don't care about the robber, Star. We need to focus on you. We're going to get you patched up."

"Am I a piece of fabric requiring repair?"

He gave a short laugh. "God, Star, not now."

She frowned. Usually Robin did not mind to clear up any language confusion. "Is it more like Cyborg's software? Sometimes it is patched."

"Shh," Robin said. "The others are on their way."

Raven appeared at her side. "Robin."

"It's bad," he informed her.

"Let me see."

Starfire gasped as something was pulled away from her. Raven's fingers were icy compared to Robin's warm, gloved one. She cried out in spite of herself as Raven probed deeper.

"Hang on, Starfire," Robin said, brushing her hair off her face. "Just hang on."

She squeezed his hand, just remembering not to use her full strength. She did not want to hurt Robin. She had made enough errors this day.

"The bullet's still inside her," Raven announced. "I've done enough so I can transport her back to the Tower but I need to get her to the med bay quickly."

"Do it," Robin ordered.

"Step back."

He reluctantly let go of Starfire's hand and stepped away. He felt the wind pick up as Raven gathered her power. He watched as they disappeared in a flash of her magic.

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Cyborg was talking to Beast Boy by the T-car as Robin emerged from the alley. He stopped and stared at their leader open-mouthed for a moment before asking, "Robin, what happened?"

"Is that-is that blood?" Beast Boy asked.

"Starfire was shot. Raven has taken her back to the Tower and the med bay."

"Oh, man," Cyborg whispered.

"But she's going to be okay, right? Starfire's going to be okay?" Beast Boy asked.

"Raven's doing everything she can," Robin said, "but it's bad."

"Let's get back to the Tower," Cyborg said, steering Robin toward passenger seat of the car. "The cops have things under control here."

"I need to make a report," Robin said in a half-hearted protest.

"It can wait," Cyborg said, shoving Robin into the car and closing the door. He and Beast Boy quickly got in. Cyborg ignored the speed limit as they raced home.

"I shouldn't let her go off by herself," Robin said after a long moment of quiet. He was staring at the blood staining his gloves.

"Rob, don't do this to yourself." Cyborg gave his shoulder a squeeze. "She's going to be fine. Our girl's tough."

"And Raven's the best at healing," Beast Boy added.

Robin nodded before looking out the window. "Yeah, everything is going to be fine."

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Raven and Starfire were still in the med bay when they arrived at the Tower. Raven would only allow Cyborg in as he could provide actual assistance. Robin was still peppering Raven with questions when she slammed the doors of the medical bay in his face.

"Dude, you've got to relax," Beast Boy said a while later as Robin paced outside the door.

"What?"

"You're going to wear a hole in the carpet at the rate you're going."

Robin clenched his fists, fighting the urge to snap at his teammate. "Aren't you worried about her?"

"Of course, I am. She's my friend, too. But I don't see how a hole in the carpet is going to help."

"I just need something to do."

"Then go change clothes. Maybe take a shower." Beast Boy gave an exaggerated sniff. "Because you reek."

"What?"

Beast Boy tapped his nose. "Nose doesn't lie, dude."

Robin glanced at the still closed door of the med bay. "Fine. But let me know if Raven's finished before I get back."

"Of course."

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Robin rushed through his shower, threw on a clean uniform, and raced back to the medical bay. Beast Boy was still waiting outside the doors. "Any change?"

The green boy shook his head. "No changes. Not a word."

"Do you think we should go in there and see what's going on?"

"And risk breaking Raven's concentration?" Again, Beast Boy shook his head. "They'll tell us something when they can."

Robin took two steps and then felt Beast Boy watching him. Realizing that he was starting to pace again, he made himself take a chair. He fought the urge to fidget. He glanced at Beast Boy, surprised to see the other boy sitting so still. "How are you so calm?"

"I trust Raven," he stated, as if it was supposed to be obvious. "I know that she and Cyborg are doing everything they can to help Starfire. She couldn't be in better hands."

"I know, I know." Robin looked at the med bay doors. "But I can't help being worried."

"Hey, Robin, when she's better, do you think -"

Whatever Beast Boy was going to say stopped as the doors opened. Robin was immediately on his feet as Raven and Cyborg appeared. Raven appeared even paler than usual as she made her way to the pair.

"Is she all right?" Robin asked.

"She's going to be fine," Raven confirmed. "We got the bullet out. But she's lost a lot of blood."

"I'm analyzing the bullet now. See if we can trace it," Cyborg said.

Robin nodded. "Good job."

"You can see her now," Raven said. "She's still sedated but she'll know you're there."

Robin wasn't the only one surprised when Beast Boy wrapped an arm around Raven and began leading her toward the common room.

"What are you doing?" she hissed. However, at that moment, her knees tried to buckle and Beast Boy took on more of her weight.

"You've got to be beat after all of that healing, so we're going to the kitchen to get you a huge mug of tea with lots of honey and a sandwich."

"I'm not hungry."

"Wasn't asking."

The two were still bickering as Beast Boy led her around the corner. Cyborg had an amused smile on his face as he watched them disappear. "I give it ten minutes before Raven dumps him in the bay with her powers."

"At least he can swim," Robin joked.

Cyborg chuckled. "Well, come on, champ. I'll let you see her."